When I was in college, I learned about the Premack Principle (informally called "Granny's Rule) in my behavior management class. Simply stated, "In order to do what you want, you have to do what I want." The premise involves using good & positive things as rewards for less pleasant tasks. This principle can be used on children or you can use it on yourself.
Examples:
Eat your vegetables in order to get dessert.
Study for your test before watching tv.
Finish your chores before picking up that new book.
Everyday, I start my day with the Premack Principle.
I need to do my devotions before I can boot up my computer and check my emails.
I must study my Spanish vocabulary and Bible verses before I can check facebook.
In order to do what I want to do, I have necessary tasks I must get done first. The necessary tasks are the ones that I sometimes procrastinate & get sucked into mindless activities instead.
What are ways you can use this principle in your life?
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Leaving the Ol' Comfort Zone
As humans, we are amazingly adaptable & new situations quickly become routine.
In Costa Rica, we have found our normal. We live on the Seminary grounds where we volunteer. We leave to go shopping & to go to church. For three months, we taught English off-campus, one night a week. But we have our routine, our normal.
A few Saturday nights ago, Lucas & I went to a youth group meeting to share our testimonies. The morning of the meeting, we found out when we'd get picked up for that meeting (5pm). In the early afternoon, we found out we'd actually be picked up that afternoon (2pm). Our plans shifted as we rode with a couple from our church to an errand they had, for a visit over coffee, to a guitar lesson by a praise band member, and then to the youth group meeting.
The meeting was outside my comfort zone, for many reasons:
1. Of my husband and I, I am the less social one.
2. My dinner was delayed until 7:30pm (instead of 5pm)
3. I was very nervous giving testimony in Spanish (even though my head knew that I was among friends).
4. We joined the youth group in sharing about our weeks & prayer requests in Spanish.
5. We joined the youth group in participating in a game.
The next day, my husband & I jumped in a taxi & headed to an area of Costa Rica we had never been to before to see the baptism of a friend's baby. It was new. It was different. It was a little intimidating.
These two events were a good reminder of how normal life in Costa Rica has become. It was good to remember that we need to leave our comfort zone sometimes, and when we do, it's not always that scary.
In Costa Rica, we have found our normal. We live on the Seminary grounds where we volunteer. We leave to go shopping & to go to church. For three months, we taught English off-campus, one night a week. But we have our routine, our normal.
A few Saturday nights ago, Lucas & I went to a youth group meeting to share our testimonies. The morning of the meeting, we found out when we'd get picked up for that meeting (5pm). In the early afternoon, we found out we'd actually be picked up that afternoon (2pm). Our plans shifted as we rode with a couple from our church to an errand they had, for a visit over coffee, to a guitar lesson by a praise band member, and then to the youth group meeting.
The meeting was outside my comfort zone, for many reasons:
1. Of my husband and I, I am the less social one.
2. My dinner was delayed until 7:30pm (instead of 5pm)
3. I was very nervous giving testimony in Spanish (even though my head knew that I was among friends).
4. We joined the youth group in sharing about our weeks & prayer requests in Spanish.
5. We joined the youth group in participating in a game.
The next day, my husband & I jumped in a taxi & headed to an area of Costa Rica we had never been to before to see the baptism of a friend's baby. It was new. It was different. It was a little intimidating.
These two events were a good reminder of how normal life in Costa Rica has become. It was good to remember that we need to leave our comfort zone sometimes, and when we do, it's not always that scary.
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